It was so infectious that Rory McIlroy, another fun-loving, bright future for the sport, joined in. As did the spectators who remained oblivious to the cause of the outburst.

'I made my putt for par,' was Retief Goosen's version of the incident.

It's the way he tells them. No one could accuse Goosen of being a bit of a wag. While all around him were falling about, he stood expressionless, probably not even wondering what all the fuss was about.

'There was something between him and his caddie,' Goosen revealed. Like communication. Not something that the South African does with any ease or willingness.

McIlory had joked earlier in the week about Goosen, 40, not saying a word and sure enough, at least yesterday, he exchanged only a handshake with his young playing partners. His caddie fared better, even if the chat was confined to yardages and club selections.

Goosen disclosed that he had not even been in touch with his coach, Gregor, who grew up here, son of the long time Turnberry professional Bob Jamieson.

'He (Gregor) should have had the inside track?' he was asked.

'No, I think he's sitting at home watching it on TV.'

'Did he give you some tips?'

'No, he didn't. What can he say? Keep it on the fairway.'

Good grief. But in this sport, as with others, you have to walk the walk, not talk the talk.

While all about him were falling off the leaderboard, Goosen remained in contention with a typically grinding level par 70 for a half-way total of 137.

Who was laughing now? Not Kim who undeservedly double bogeyed the 18th to miss the cut. He departed more quickly than a Frank Carson routine without, annoyingly, revealing the precise reason for his convulsions. Something his caddie said, apparently.

If Goosen had had his way he, too, would have made a swift dash for the safety of the practice range without having to share details of his round never mind his innermost thoughts. This is someone who won two US Opens, in 2001 and 2004, while barely generating a ripple in the public consciousness.

But boy, can he play. His long game was a distance short of his best yesterday but when you can hole putts of 35ft and 45ft, as he did at the eighth and 10th, you are going to be in with a chance of taking that old Claret Jug home.

This is his 16th Open and six top 10 finishes suggest he will be there, shouting from the rooftops, when the crunch comes tomorrow.

'I don't feel like I am swinging it great. But I putted quite well in these last two days,' he said, entering a contender for the understatement of the week. As it happens, he volunteered a nomination for the exaggeration of the day. He thought the links played seven strokes harder than the previous round.

If McIlroy had putted 'quite well' this week he would have been closer to matching a hype that placed him among a group of so-called second favourites - 33-1 used to be an outsider's price - behind Tiger Woods. At three over par following a second round 74, the Ulsterman estimated that he would need a pair of 67s over the weekend to have a chance of victory.

Rest assured, he will think it possible.

For there is a confidence in his stride. Kim is the possessor of a fully-fledged swagger. Together, as they have been in all the majors this year, and individually, they represent extremely good news for golf. The PGA of America could do a lot worse than 'arranging' for them to play the first two rounds in each other's company at the US PGA Championship next month.

People would pay to watch their length, their attacking approach and their joy of playing. 'We both like to have fun,' McIlroy commented. 'We take it seriously but we like to have a laugh and a joke. We get on really well.'